How Do We Identify Good Ideas?

Self-criticism is unnecessary. Just float ideas in blog-world. They may get plenty of non-self criticism, but the best ideas will have a chance to survive.

Inspiration....

I have had revelations of a technical nature come to me in my sleep. Woke up with the answer...another credibility maintenance miracle ensues....

Insight....

The bit atthe end about writing is goodadvice. It isimpossible to proof read your own wok. Let it rest and read it later. The errors and style flaws become quite glaring. Unless you are purfact liek mee offcourse.

There is a book titled The Ant and the Elephant by Vince Poscente that sheds much light on the function of the sub-conscious in solving problems, impacting our thinking and subsequent actions.

The sub-conscious mind has tremendous power to influence our behavior. When we are working on a problem, mechanical or otherwise, our sub-conscious mind (the elephant) is looking for a way to solve the problem. Many people will keep a pad of paper by their bed so they can write down ideas that come to them in the middle of the night when their conscious mind isn't working on the problem. I know of one gentleman who had 4 patents before he was 25 years old and 2 of those came from ideas in the middle of the night when his conscious mind (the ant) was at rest.

To reach mastery in any field requires a great deal of time (according to author Malcolm Gladwell, about 10,000 hours) and along the way there will be a much that isn't up to the standard that it will be eventually. But that doesn't mean we quit striving for excellence in the meantime.

When the building where Thomas Edison's laboratory was housed burned to the ground, someone lamented to him about all the failed experiments. His response was remarkable in that he just said they were his mistakes and now he knew what didn't work. That brought him one step closer to what would work. The lights in the room where you are is a testimony to his persistence.

There is a verse that says "there is wisdom in the counsel of many". To evaluate the validity or value of projects, ideas, etc. talk to others who have "fruit on the tree" when it comes to critical, analytical thinking and get their feedback.

A good idea will always supply its own fuel or else die.

The error of a moth can only be recognized by a higher creature and even then we can't help much other than turn off the light.

Poor moths.